Catalyst Game Labs BattleTech: Beginner Box, MCAT35020

Product Information

As a whole, the Clan mechs are higher technology than the Inner Sphere, with more range, firepower, mobility, and armor per mech, but get balanced out by not being able to field anywhere near as many. Each player will field a group, called a lance, of one or more mechs. Usually, a Lance maxes out at 4 mechs. For the first scenario in this box, they recommend a Griffen mech and a Wolverine mech in a 1v1 matchup. This means it is very common in Battletech (and seen in all of these products) to have a base model and a variant included for variety (so there is a Griffin N and a Griffin R in A Game of Armoured Combat, even though there is no Griffin miniature as they assume you’ll have one from the Beginner box). Variants, given they normally change the armament, can completely change the battlefield role. If a model goes from having all guns with a max range of 9 to being able to hit things 21 hexes away, then it makes a big difference to performance on the table.

The BattleTech: Beginner Box, Second Edition, also known as the Vindicator Edition, is a physical game box containing the necessary pieces, papers, and material to serve as an introduction to the tabletop version of BattleTech. The boxed set is a more compact, lower-priced introduction that complements the fuller BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat boxed set. This edition supersedes the BattleTech Beginner Box. Commando-2D– The Command has an SRM-6, SRM-4 and Medium Laser, making it much more heavily armed than the Locust. Heavier than the Locust, the Commando has less armour and speed, both of which help keep light mechs alive. Medium MechsIf you have been worn down and tempted by John to get yourself into Battletech, Catalyst Game Labs have now announced that they will be releasing an entry-level box this Autumn, stomping forward with the BattleTech Beginner Box. My advice is to give 1 vs 1 mech games a go and if you enjoy it, evolve it from there. If you want to play big games (I guiltily look at the 5 inner sphere lances and 3 Clan stars I’ve got) then play Alpha Strike, which has a new boxed set coming out soon, and uses a streamlined and less detailed rule set. Table Notes: The column denoted "Parts" gives the number of parts for each miniature prior to assembly. (Certain miniatures came with detachable arms, torsos, and fins.) Puma (Adder)– The Puma has two Extended Range (ER) PPCs, a Targeting Computer, and a Flamer. This is a 35 ton mech armed with as much long ranged punch as a lot of medium or even (at 3025 level) heavy mechs, while still retaining the speed of a light mech. It pays for it in points, costing as much as some Inner Sphere assault mechs. Printing your own maps and minis isn’t free also. If you start factoring in energy, ink, paper, resin/filament it starts to add up. DYI is not always cheaper.

Battletech has existed since the 1980s, and unlike Warhammer hasn’t had repeated new editions changing the rules, so there’s a colossal pile of confusing books and supplements for a player getting started. There are currently three different box sets commonly available, with a fourth coming later this fall. The fourth, Alpha Strike, adds to the confusion as its a different set of game rules that are cross-compatible with the same models. Certain reports suggest that the plastics used for basic 24 'Mechs in this set may differ from that used in the previous edition, that is the Classic BattleTech Introductory Box Set, but the sculpts appear unchanged. At present, there is not a way known to distinguish a miniature originating from the Classic BattleTech Introductory Box Set in 2007 and one originating from the 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set in 2011 or 2012.Battletech is confusing to get into (that’s half the point of writing this article) and it’s coming at you with a lot of supplements and things tagged as rulebooks which are in fact optional/advanced rules. The BattleTech Introductory Box Set was published in 2014 with miniatures for the standard group of 24 'Mechs that had been in several prior box sets. The molds and sculpts were revised from those used for the Classic BattleTech Introductory Box Set and 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set. Also a different plastic and improved molding process was used. The 2014 BattleTech Introductory Box Set also included two premium quality plastic miniatures: a Timber Wolf (Mad Cat) and a BattleMaster BLR-4S from Project Phoenix. These replaced the Thor and Loki that were included in the 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set. These two came on dedicated sprues and required assembly, unlike the base 24 models they accompanied. These two form a separate line and are described in the section 'Separate Premium Quality Plastic Miniatures'. Movement phase: Each player, starting with the loser of initiative, can move their mechs. Mechs move a specific amount of hexes as either a walk, run, or jump. Battletech: A Game of Armoured Combat (AGoAC) is a true starter set, providing a bigger, fatter rulebook, 8 miniatures giving two complete Lances, and everything needed to play the game. You have full sized record sheets, points, the ‘full’ rules for mech combat, and even rules for designing your own mechs.